And none carried as much significance
as this one. It was the first time they had won four Premier League
matches on the trot, enhancing Albion's growing reputation as the top
division's team of the season, ousting Chelsea from third place in the
table.

It remains to be seen whether Rafa
Benitez's debut at Stamford Bridge today can ensure Chelsea's former
coach enjoys only 24 hours in such a lofty position behind the two
Manchester clubs.

Shane Long, who lifted his goal tally to seven in the last 10 games, remained guarded in his ambitions for the season.

'Let's just get to that 40-points mark and then we can start pushing on,' he said.

Yet the last time Albion stood so
high at this stage of the season, some pundits suggested the team should
represent England en masse at the 1954 World Cup.

Here they built their victory on a
terrific opening goal on the halfhour, a 25-yard left-foot effort from
Zoltan Gera; a schoolboy goalkeeping error by Simon Mignolet, who failed
to hold a weak shot from Chris Brunt, allowing Long to capitalise a
minute before half-time and a shocking penalty decision by Mike Dean.

The Wirral official penalised Adam
Johnson for a challenge on Liam Ridgewell in the 81st minute when there
was little, if any, contact.

Romelu Lukaku drilled home the spot-kick.

Back in the game: Craig Gardner made it 2-1, putting Sunderland on the front foot

That goal ended a possible rally from
Sunderland, who had halved Albion's two-goal advantage when Craig
Gardner's free-kick went in off Marc-Antoine Fortune in the 73rd minute.

'It was a non-penalty and it was
hard because I really fancied us to get back into the game,' said
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill.

Spot on: Substitute Romelu Lukaku made no mistake from 12 yards to make it 3-1

'I felt we could take a lot out of it.'

O'Neill admitted his team were short on aggression. 'I feel we are less physical than most other teams in the league,' he said.

'It's something we should have a look at.'

Goal rush: Stephane Sessegnon gives Sunderland hope of a result (above) but Marc-Antoine Fortune sealed the points for West Brom

But Clarke was full of optimism. He
conceded the penalty was 'fortuitous' but added: 'It would have been a
serious injustice if we had lost this match because we were so much
better than the opposition.'

Stephane Sessegnon raised hopes of a
point when he cut Albion's lead in the 87th minute and it was
Sunderland's desperate gung-ho approach in the final minutes that
allowed Fortune the time and space to complete the scoring almost on the
final whistle.